Rise Once More (11 page)

It would be a retreat if you will, a journey back to another time when life was simple, filled with endless visions of hope. A time when she laid in her father's lap begging for him to read her yet another bed time story. Yes. This was the solution to all of her problems. She trembled as she held the gun to her face, in only a moment all of this nightmare would be over.

She began to squeeze the trigger, but something inside her brain seemed to scream at her to stop. It started as a faint whisper that grew louder every time she applied pressure to the trigger. Each time she tempered her resolve, swallowed hard, only to be met each time with even more resistance.

Finally the whisper had become a fierce yell.
NO! Not now pumpkin.
Ben's voice echoed from deep inside her skull, and Eve burst into tears. Her vision flooded with the images and memories of her father. His strong embrace enveloping her in a hug that seemed to last forever. Once again she felt the security that only his arms could provide.

For once, she felt alive, no longer alone, as if her father was with her now. She thought even if only for a moment, that she could see his hand reach out and lower the gun back into her lap, his strength consuming her existence, like a guardian angel, protecting her at every moment and delivering her once again into safety. As the pistol came to rest in her lap, she could hear him distinctly say.
I love you pumpkin. Always have and always will.

Chapter Twelve

Domestic Disturbance

“We better stop for gas. There is a town just up ahead.” Cox says.

“
Do you know how big it is? Or if it is infected? I think we should push on and stop at the last minute.”

“
The sign only had one symbol for fuel and nothing else. Safe to say it is a small town, plus I have never heard of Plankinton before.” Cox says.

“
Remember your brilliant idea to get on the interstate? We barely made it out of Chamberlain.”

“
In my defense, there was literally no other way. Like I had any idea it was over run. What was your plan smarty pants? Were you going to just float across the Missouri river? There was only one bridge across the river close to us, and it happened to run through that town.” Cox says.

“
We been lucky enough to make it this far, with the little gas we have left. I think we should switch to the back roads. We can't afford to get trapped up again. We can't just keep dodging abandoned cars, sooner or later one of them won't be able to move and we are sitting ducks.”

“
OK. We can take this highway 16, a few miles north of the interstate, should be clear enough, and gives us an opportunity to jump back to the interstate if needed. It runs almost parallel with interstate 90. So a quick fuel up and be on our way.” Cox says.

Haus exits the interstate, slowing down to a creep on the overpass, scanning the surroundings for any movement. The lights are still on, and he spots a familiar green dinosaur off in the distance. A few trucks are still parked next to the building, and the open sign is still on. The building is dated but showed only a few signs of its age. While not a new structure it was obvious it had been well kept and cared for.

Haus cautiously drives down the street, constantly on guard for signs of life, or
them
. At this time any movement would be comforting. To let them know if this was friendly or enemy territory. He pulls the car up to the gas pump, retrieves the handle, and tries to pump gas. The LED display mocking him, flashing
Waiting for cashier.

Haus looks inside the building, there is no one behind the register, and he had no intent on paying anyway. Haus stops to look around, the encroaching darkness of the night limits his view, especially under the powerful canopy lights above his head. A certain uneasiness creeps up his spine, and he ducks inside the car. “I gotta activate the pump.”

“I am not getting out of this car!” replies Cox.

“
You don't have a choice my little princess. Get out and man the damn pump, while I go inside and  activate it. This is a two man job here. Just pump the gas; it's not exactly rocket science.”

“
What if we get attacked?” Cox asks.

“
Here is the tire iron, just like last time, but this time you are swinging it and not me.”

“
Why don't I go inside and you use the tire iron?” Cox asks.

“
Have you ever worked at a gas station before? Do you know what button to push?”

“
No.” Cox says.

“
OK then. It's settled, now get out here.” Cox grudgingly drags himself outside of the safety of the car. Assuming the position at the fuel pump, as he watches Haus enter the building. The ding of the entry bell catches Haus off guard; he flinches for a second, almost hiding behind a rack of jerky. When he realizes that he was not in danger proceeds behind the counter.

Staring at the register controls, he realizes that three days as a cashier was not enough time to become master of all things gas station related. He eyes a flashing yellow button, pressing it once with his index finger, and glances out to Cox. Cox still standing unsure of himself gestures a shrug of his shoulders in confusion. Cox squeezes the trigger several times, and motions back to Haus that nothing is happening.

Haus scratches his forehead, and examines the buttons again. The blinking yellow button still calls out for attention. He presses it again, looking at the screen; a second button begins to flash green. He presses it, and Cox is startled by the sound of the pump whirling to life. Cox gives Haus a thumbs up.

Haus turns to head back outside, when something catches the corner of his eye. He stoops down to examine it, finding a shotgun tucked under the desk next to a stack of hunting guides and several boxes of shells.
Gotta love pheasant country! This baby should come in handy.
Haus thinks to himself and walks out to join Cox.

Haus holds the gun up above his head, showing off his find, but the terror filled look in Cox's eyes made him suddenly stop. Partially frozen with fear Cox raises his trembling hand and points behind Haus. He turns just in time to hear the glass shatter and a burly male body roll next to his feet. It lets out a thunderous groan, its arms out stretched towards his feet; flailing around searching for anything to take hold of.

Haus steps back a few paces, lowers the shotgun, the muzzles recoil knocking him off balance but he is able to remain upright. They were safe for now, but the sound of a gun had awakened noises surrounding them in the dark. In every direction came sounds, thumps, scraping, moaning, and groaning. A few incoherent ramblings could also be heard.
Have you seen my cat?...Oh you must be here to save me...I knew you would come back Pauly...

Haus scrambles to the pump, grabbing the handle and squeezing it tightly. “Pump faster!” He says pushing Cox out of the way. He lays the shotgun across the roof of the car, now with both hands he squeezes harder, knowing all too well that it won't speed things along.

The voices and noises are drawing closer at every minute. Cox rushes to the passenger side, settling himself into his seat, and instinctively buckles his seat belt. Haus struggles with the temptation to cut off the precious flow of gasoline early, in the distance not even 30 yards he can see the faces emerging from the darkness. Their inanimate faces illuminated by the canopy lights.

He knows that he cannot stop, every drop of gas is a few more feet closer to safety. He must buy his time, they are slow moving, and if he can keep his cool the job will be done soon. He calms his nerves knowing that if one does close the distance prematurely, he has his gun to dispatch of them.

He hears a sound, one more distinct and closer than the rest. It was subtle, the sound of a wobbly foot step slightly dragging behind in the grit of the pavement, but definitely closer than the rest. Worst of all it was directly behind him. He does not turn around, calmly reaching out, and gripping the shotgun by the grip. He moves like prey that is fully aware that the predator is ready to strike. His next movement will catch it off guard and hopefully give him the edge he needs to successfully escape.

Haus slowly pumps the handle of the shotgun.
Chink.
The spent round ejects and falls to the ground. He pauses for a moment, allowing the sound to dissipate into the night air. He takes a deep breath and moves the action forward.
Thunk;
a live round resting in the firing chamber. He exhales a temporary sigh of relief.

Both of his hands gripping the shotgun, it spread across his chest, ready to fire at any moment. The gritty sound is only a few feet away, and he is about to make his move. Suddenly the gas pump clicks off, he spins around, raising the shotgun to his shoulder, and squeezes the trigger.

He was prepared this time for the shock of the blast. His bullet had found its target, and flesh sprayed out onto the fueling station. The body stopped, quivering for a moment, and then fell at his feet. Behind it he spotted something moving quickly, a small flash of white, seeking cover behind the plastic trash barrel to his right.

Haus reloads quickly, and advances towards the barrel. He side steps it by a few paces, the shotgun at ready, and his finger on the trigger. He can see what appears to be a leg, adorned in white gym shorts, hiding behind the barrel. Moving closer, he readies his shotgun for the kill shot.

He traces the outline of the human body with his gun. Starting at the feet and working his way towards the chest. Raising the gun even higher towards the head, he is confronted with a scream of terror.
“
DONT SHOOT ME!”

Haus reaches down grabbing her forearm and thrusts her upward to her feet. He maintains his grip on her arm, dragging her towards the back door of the door. He flings the door open with one hand and throws her into the back seat with the other. Cox presses himself against the passenger window as if he is waiting for the person in the back seat to attack him at any moment. Haus jumps into the driver seat, slams the door, and puts the car in drive.

A jerking motion from the back end of the car startles Haus, he remembers that he hadn't removed the gas pump handle, and it trails behind them like a tail. Haus swerves to avoid a direct attack from the  faces in the dark, that are now coming in from all sides as he attempts to exit the parking lot.

The road is blocked, he has only one choice, and that is to force his way back onto the road. He revs the engine up and grabs the wheel with both hands. Bracing himself for the imminent impact, as Cox swallows hard.

There must have been fewer than he was expecting because their bodies barely slowed the car down as he turns onto the open road. “No! GO SOUTH!” a hoarse female voice yells from the back seat. Without a second thought Haus spins a U-turn in the road, guiding the car south, and smashes his foot into the gas pedal.

A few thuds echo into the night, as the mobs limbs reflect off the car body panels. Haus looks back in the rear view mirror, seeing the light of the gas station canopy fade behind them. He doesn't take his foot of the throttle and readjusts the mirror to take a better look at their guest. Or kidnapping victim, depending on you ask.

An athletic body, not skinny, but not overweight, she was wearing what used to be pearly white gym shorts and a blue tshirt. Her shorts dirtied and stained, from what, he did not know. She appeared to be in her early twenties, if not slightly younger. Her frizzy blonde hair, disarrayed and tangled, was in contrast to her dark brown eyes.

“
Excuse me. What is your name young lady?” Cox interrupts.

“
Amy. Amy Chayes.” She says.

“
What were you doing back there? I could have shot you.” Haus says impatiently.

“
Well I was hoping to get away from that gas station closet I was hiding in. I thought you guys would distract them long enough for me to run away. Then you abducted me at gun point.” Amy says.

“
Wait a minute here! I didn't abduct you. I saved you! Big difference.” Haus says.

“
Are you a local dear?” Cox asks.

“
Yeah, born and raised on a farm near here. I came back from College to visit my folks.” Amy says.

“
Where are your parents?” Cox asks.

“
I don't know... I went out for a run one morning, lost track of time, came back and the place was empty. At first I thought they had gone out in the fields to work. Then they didn't come back that night. So the next day I jogged into town and saw
THAT
.” Amy gestures behind them with her index finger.

“
What is going on with everyone? Old man Schmeil tried to rape me. I kicked him right in the nose. He kept crawling towards me... So I kicked him again. He kept saying he just wanted a taste. I guess I killed him... He stopped moving after that last kick.” Amy begins to cry, pausing often to wipe away the tears.

“
So I ran to the gas station hoping to catch the sheriff having coffee. No such luck. Todd was there though. He was watching the register and got me some food to calm me down. I waited until he closed for the night. Todd is always good about that kind of stuff. I told him what happened, he offered to drive me back home, and alert the sheriff...”

Amy's tears well back up again and she is forced to stop talking. Everything she had witnessed and been through come out in full force. She felt at ease finally, almost safe, even if they were total strangers.

“Poor thing... You have been through hell. My name is Dr Cox and this is Haus.”

“
Hi guys...” Amy says.

“
So where is Todd now?” Haus asks.

“
You shot him!” Amy says as she begins to wail again.

“
I'm sorry I had no idea.” Haus says as he focuses back on the road again. A feeling of uneasiness grips at his heart, and the idea he once had of justifying the death leaves him. It was easy to kill
THEM,
as they are already gone, but to give them a name or a personality made it murder.

“
It's OK. He was gone too. That night he flagged down the sheriff, and the sheriff attacked him. I watched him lay on the road, his blood spilling out onto the ground, as he just laid there; lifeless. I took the keys from his truck and ran back inside the store. The sheriff followed me, so I locked myself in the cleaning closet. He eventually left and I fell asleep. This morning Todd came back. I never left the closet until you guys showed up. I kept watching things happen from the crack under the door.” Amy says.